Trip Grade & Suitability

Every trip organized
Actual adventure has been given a grade based on the expected level of
difficulty in order to help you select a suitable trip. We have six levels of
grading for our trips: Easy, Gentle, Moderate, Demanding, Strenuous and
Challenging.

Our trips have been
graded based on four factors:

1) Walking times

2) Altitude

3) Terrain

4) Remoteness

For further detailed information to help you
choose the right trip please download Trip Dossiers from our website that has
day by day itinerary including walking times, altitudes and description of what
to expect.

Easy

Suitability: Most people in good health.

1) Walking times: transport by
private vehicle with driver to various places of interest then sightseeing on foot at each location.

1) Altitude:
usually less than 3,000m.

2) Terrain:
sightseeing in cities and some optional day walks on well-travelled trails.

3) Remoteness:
hotel and road based tour.

Gentle

Suitability: Most people in good health who
take regular exercise.

1) Walking times: average 4 to 6 hours
walking per day for up to 8 days often including one or two rest days.

2) Altitude: up to 4,000m.

3) Terrain: for most of time following
well-travelled trails through villages, there will be some daily ascent and
descent.

4) Remoteness: usually not too remote and
often there is a reasonable level of transportation such as lodge accommodation
and cell/ mobile phone reception.

Moderate

Suitability: A good choice for most hill
walkers, reasonable level of fitness required.

1) Walking
times: average 5 to 7 hours walking per day for up to 14 days usually with some
rest days included.

2) Altitude:
up to 5,000m.

3) Terrain:
for most of time following well-travelled trails, there will be daily ascent
and descent.

4) Remoteness:
usually not too remote and often there is a reasonable level of infrastructure
such as lodge accommodation and cell/ mobile phone reception.

Demanding

Suitability:
A good choice for regular hill walkers, high level of fitness required.

1) Walking
times: average 6 to 8 hours walking per day (with several long days up to 12
hours) for up to 14 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude:
up to 5,500m.

3) Terrain:
for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to
encounter rough and rocky sections. There may be a significant amount of ascent
and descent.

4) Remoteness:
often in more remote areas and normally a longer distance from the nearest road
and facilities available in a city.

Strenuous

Suitability: A good choice for regular long
distance hill walkers, very high level of fitness required. These trips may
involve mountaineering and glacial travel.

1) Walking
times: average 7 to 8 hours walking per day (with several long days up to 12
hours) for up to 28 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude:
up to 5,500m.

3) Terrain:
for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to
encounter rough and rocky conditions probably with exposed sections. The trek may
involve a vertical ascent and descent over mountain passes that could be snow
covered.

4) Remoteness:
usually in more remote areas and likely to be a long distance from the nearest
road and facilities available in a city.

Challenging

Suitability: A
good choice for regular, long distance hill walkers. A very high level of
fitness would be required for our toughest treks and expeditions. Previous
trekking experience at high altitude is preferable although not mandatory given
sufficient experience, preparation and training. These trips may involve
mountaineering and glacier travel.

1) Walking
times:average 7 to 9 hours walking per day (with several long days up to 15
hours) for up to 28 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude:up to 6,500m or 8,848 m.

3) Terrain : You will experience a wide variety of mountain terrain from reasonable trails
to crossing technical mountaineering passes and hiking to summits sometimes
including the use of fixed ropes.

4) Remoteness: usually in more remote areas and likely to be
a long distance from the nearest road and facilities available in a city.

Of course it is
very likely conditions will vary year to year but our trip gradings should give
you an idea of what to expect. It is important everyone booked onto our trips
should be open to new situations and ready to be flexible for any changes often
involved with adventure travel, please read our Adventure Travel section in the
Information Centre.

Please contact us if you have any question about
our trip grades or if you need any help selecting the right trip for you.